break the momentum

USAGE SUMMARY

"break the momentum" is a perfectly correct phrase and can certainly be used in written English.
For example, you might say, "As the race drew to a close, the jam-packed stadium watched eagerly to see who could break the momentum."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Events have passed them by and a bigger role for Sunni politicians like them is unlikely to break the momentum of the revolt.

Independent

"Now Iraq needs additional support to break the momentum of extremist groups and bolster the capabilities of Iraqi security forces," he said.

The New Yorker

Pressed by France, the European Union stepped in as a "bridging force" to break the momentum of the conflict until the United Nations could create its own mission.

The New York Times

And, even though we saw the road to a world free of nuclear weapons differently, the very fact of setting this goal in 1986 in Reykjavik helped to break the momentum of the arms race.

The New York Times

A cease-fire offers President Bashar al-Assad's troops time and space to rest and plan; it will also break the momentum of supplying weapons to the Free Syrian Army, which has risked much and could easily find its morale and spirit shattered.

The New York Times

"These soldiers," the president said, "embody the spirit that guides our troops in Afghanistan every day: the courage, the resolve, the relentless focus on their mission to break the momentum of the Taliban insurgency and to build the capacity of Afghans to defend themselves".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

This broke the momentum of my interest in baseball.

The New York Times - Sports

So it broke the momentum there for not getting it".

The New York Times

Because of you, in Afghanistan we've broken the momentum of the Taliban.

The New York Times

Most important, Mr. Obama has most likely broken the momentum that Mr. Romney generated after the first debate.

The New York Times

The horror doesn't really stay sustained, the love curdles oddly and the humor breaks the momentum of both.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "break the momentum", ensure the context clearly indicates what force or action is being disrupted. For instance, specify whether it's "breaking the momentum of an opposing team's attack" or "breaking the momentum of a legislative initiative".

Common error

Avoid using "break the momentum" when you actually intend to describe a temporary pause or adjustment. "Break the momentum" implies a more significant disruption, not simply a brief interruption. If you mean to convey a pause, consider using "pause the momentum" or "adjust the pace" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "break the momentum" functions primarily as a verb phrase. It signifies an action taken to disrupt or halt an ongoing process or progression. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms this usage across numerous contexts, indicating its role in describing deliberate or consequential interruptions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "break the momentum" is a versatile phrase used to describe the action of disrupting or halting progress. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While alternatives like "disrupt the progression" and "halt the advancement" exist, understanding the precise nuance is crucial for effective communication. Remember that "break the momentum" implies a significant disruption, not merely a temporary pause. By avoiding common errors and focusing on clarity, you can effectively incorporate "break the momentum" in your writing to convey impactful interruptions or counteractions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disrupt the progression

Changes "break" to "disrupt" and "momentum" to "progression", emphasizing interruption of forward movement.

halt the advancement

Replaces "break" with "halt" and "momentum" with "advancement", focusing on stopping progress.

impede the forward thrust

Substitutes "break" with "impede" and "momentum" with "forward thrust", conveying a sense of hindering forceful movement.

curtail the impetus

Replaces "break" with "curtail" and "momentum" with "impetus", suggesting a reduction in driving force.

thwart the progression

Uses "thwart" instead of "break", indicating an obstruction of the forward movement.

derail the advancement

Employs "derail" to signify causing a deviation from the intended path of progress.

interrupt the flow

Replaces "momentum" with "flow", focusing on disrupting a continuous movement or process.

stifle the drive

Substitutes "break" with "stifle" and "momentum" with "drive", implying suppression of motivation or effort.

check the impetus

Uses "check" instead of "break", suggesting a slowing down or restraint of the driving force.

hinder the progress

Changes "break" to "hinder" and "momentum" to "progress", conveying the idea of obstructing or delaying advancement.

FAQs

How can I use "break the momentum" in a sentence?

You can use "break the momentum" to describe actions that disrupt or halt progress. For example: "The unexpected news "broke the momentum" of the negotiations."

What can I say instead of "break the momentum"?

You can use alternatives like "disrupt the progression", "halt the advancement", or "impede the forward thrust" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "break the momentum" or "broke the momentum"?

Both are correct, but they are used in different tenses. "Break the momentum" is in the present tense (e.g., "We need to break the momentum"), while "broke the momentum" is in the past tense (e.g., "They broke the momentum of the attack").

What's the difference between "break the momentum" and "interrupt the momentum"?

"Break the momentum" implies a more complete stop or disruption of progress, whereas "interrupt the momentum" suggests a temporary pause or less severe disruption. The former is more forceful.